ABSTRACT

This paper reviews the literature on plant growth and metabolic response to vanadium and reports the effects of foliar application of organic salts of the vanadyl ion on cotton growth and development. Vanadium is a transition metal and is the 20th most common element in the earth's crust. The element is considered to be essential for animal metabolism, however, the essentially for plant growth has not been fully delineated. Vanadium is reported to enhance overall plant growth, and has been implicated in chlorophyll synthesis, Hill reaction electron transport, and other plant metabolic processes. TAES at Lubbock has studied the effect of foliar application of organic salts of the vanadyl ion on cotton plant growth response and lint yield for a number of years. Application of.05 lb./a vanadium to cotton prior to first bloom was found to increase leaf growth, fruiting site production, and boll growth during the early fruiting growth stage in a number of studies. The response could be measured within two weeks after application. The enhanced early season fruit growth caused by vanadium application can potentially result in enhanced lint yield. Whether enhanced lint yield is realized or not from vanadium application is dependent on subsequent environmental conditions and management decisions as is the cases with other nutrient applications and management practices.